Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel’s New Staff Features 11 Members from His Time with the Titans
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s newly announced coaching staff includes several familiar faces from his tenure with the Tennessee Titans.
Out of the 26 staff members unveiled by the Patriots on Wednesday, 11 had worked with Vrabel during his six-year run in Tennessee from 2018 to 2023.
Among them is defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who previously served as Vrabel’s defensive line coach with the Titans. In addition, three other individuals are taking on new roles with the Patriots. John Streicher has been named the Patriots’ vice president of football operations and strategy after working as the director of football administration in Tennessee. Zak Kuhr, the new inside linebackers coach, was Vrabel’s assistant linebackers coach, and Clint McMillan, previously the assistant defensive line coach for the Titans, will now serve as the Patriots’ defensive line coach.
Other former Titans assistants joining Vrabel’s new staff include receivers coach Todd Downing (former Titans offensive coordinator), assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling, running backs coach Tony Dews, safeties coach Scott Booker, cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton (who was a defensive quality control coach for the Titans in 2023), director of sports performance Frank Piraino, and assistant special teams coach Tom Quinn.
A few holdovers from former coach Jerod Mayo’s staff will remain as well. Mayo’s brother, strength and conditioning coach Deron Mayo, will continue in his role, as will assistant strength coach Brian McDonough, assistant offensive line coach Robert Kugler, and defensive assistant Vinny DePalma. Ben McAdoo, who was a senior offensive assistant under Mayo, will now serve as a senior defensive assistant under Vrabel.
Also previously announced was former longtime Patriots assistant Josh McDaniels, who will serve as Vrabel’s offensive coordinator, along with special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, who held the same position under Mayo last season.
Another notable hire is tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown. Brown, who was a candidate for the offensive coordinator job that ultimately went to McDaniels, spent last season as the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears before being promoted to offensive coordinator midseason and interim head coach for the final six games.
Vrabel stated that his goal was to bring in “loyal, trustworthy coaches who are diverse in background, ideas, experiences, and systems.”
“We will be aligned in our vision to teach and develop our players with creativity, consistency, and an attention to detail with the major goal of developing relationships that stretch beyond the field and meeting rooms,” Vrabel said.